Three position toggle switch



y c. WILLIAMS ET AL 1,812,914

THREE-POSITION TOGGLE SWITCH Filed March 10. 1928 a; 55 flare/206 11/177666 47 2525 6 @QDZZZM Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE WILLIAMS AND ERNST APPLETON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO ROACH-APPLETON MANUFACTURING TION OF ILLINOIS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- THREE POSITION ITOGGLE SWITCH Application filed March 10, 1928. I Serial No. 260,720.

The present invention relates to improvements in three position toggle switches.

More particularly the present invention relates to improvements in switches in which it is desired to have three distinct positions, as for example, an open circuiting position and two alternative circuit making positions.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved toggle switch for three distinct positions which is small, sturdy and not likely to get out of order.

A further object is to provide a three position toggle switch which is simple and cheap to assemble and which may be made up for the most part of metal stampings.

A further object is to provide a small three position toggle switch which is well adapted to meet the needs of commercial operation.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the switch showing the terminals thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 33 of Figure 2, said view illustrating the parts in mid or open circuit position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the parts in one of the two alternative circuit making positions Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken alon the plane indicated by the arrows 6-6 0 Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view.

The numeral 10 indicates a cup shaped member which may be swedged from sheet metal. The outer wall of 11 of said cup shaped member 10 is rovided with an aperture 12 which if pref by the eyelet 13 which presents, at least inwardly of thecup shaped member 10, a rounded, smooth surface. Said eyelet 13 provides a bearing for the bail portion 14; of the finger hold 15 which projects through rred may be bounded the aperture provided by the eyelet 13. Disposed within the cup shaped member 10 isthe sheet metal member 16 which comprises the concave portion 17 and the leg portions 18l8. Said sheet metal member 16 fits more or less closely within the cup shaped member 10, and the legs 1818 project substantially to the plane of the rim of the cup shaped member 10. The illustrated embodiment of the present invention includes a cup shaped member 10 which is substantially oblong in cross section. In the particular embodiment chosen for illustration four legs 18-18 are provided. The rim of the cup shaped member 10 is abuttcd by the cover 19 which maybe composed of insulating material such, for example, as fiber. Said cover 19 is adapted to abut the extremities of the legs 1818 whereby the concave portion 17 of the sheet metal mem ber 16 is held in predetermined position within the cup shaped member 10. Said concave portion 17 of the sheet metal member 16 is provided with the aperture 20 for receiving the extremity of the finger hold 15, the rim defining said aperture provid ing a bearing for the ball portion 14. It will be understood that when the cover 19 is in place. upon the cup shaped member 10, the sheet metal member 16 will be held in such a position that the concave portion thereof will abut against the ball portion 14 of the finger hold 15, limiting inward movement of the finger hold 15. Outward movement of the finger hold 15 will, of course,

be prevented by the eyelet 13. The rim of (not shown) to permit an electric wire to each of said terminals. disposed on the inner side "of the insulating cover 19 are three contact members for co operation with the three terminal members -25. The middle contact member on the inner side-I of the insulating cover 19 is indicated by the numeral 26. Said contact member 26 is mechanically and electrically united to the middle terminal member 25 said union being accomplished by means oi tongues not shown extending from the cor- .responding terminal 25 through suitable apertures, which tongues are riveted over Said contact'membe r 26 is in the form of a'yoke havin the two arms 27-27, adj acent' siues ofsai arms being notched as indicated by 'the numerals 28-28 to rockingly support the rocking member or cradle 29, which cradle 29 wil be described presently. Arranged on; either side of the middle contact member contacted by the cradle 29. are the contact members 30-30, each of which is mechanically and electrically united to one of the outer terminal members 25-25. Said union is'accom lished by means of tongue 31 projecting rom the corresponding terminal members 25-25 1 which tongues extend through suitable apertures and have their extremities riveted overupon the inside surfaces of the contact members 30-30. Said riveted over extremities are indicated by the numerals 32-32 in Figure 5. -The contact members 30-30 are spaced from the contact member-'26 'asufiicient distance to insure that there will be no direct electrical connection betweensaidv contact members. However, the present inventioncontemplates a construction in which the cradle 29, which is rockingly supported by the contact member 26, may engage with one or the other, of

the contact members 30-30 in order to pro- 'vide' an electrical". connection between the middle terminal 25 and one or the'other of the two outer terminals 25-25. Moreover,

the present invention contemplates a construction in which the cradle 29 may be held inmidposition out ofcontact with either of the contact members 30-3 Extending longitudinally of "the finger hold 15 is the hole 33 closed at the outer extremity of said finger hold and open at the inner'extremity of said finger'hold. Disposed in the open end of said hole 33 is the operating 34, preferabl of insulating material, t e outer end 0 which pin is rounded. vA sprin 35 is disposed within the hole 33 and ten to urge the pin 34sec wardl Thecradle 29 has the wings 35a each aving the notch 356. Said notches are s etricall disposed relative to the leng't of the era 'le. 29. Said notches 35b- 35b receive the upper portions ofthe arms the I attachment bf vthe ends 0 the inner surface of the contact member 26.

26 in position to be selectably' 27-27 outwardly of the notches 28-28. The wings 35a-35a, between the notches 35b-35b rest upon the notched portions of the arms27-27. The contact member with its arms 27-27 therefore form afulcrum for the cradle 29.. s

' The cradle 29 .is, provided [along a line transverse to the axis of swing of said cradle with a oove 36 for receivi I the rounded extremlt of the pin'34. 'o'sed at said groove 36 are t e walls 37-37 adapted to be abutted by the rounded extremity ofthe pin 34. Cradle 29 is provided with a socket 38 for receiving aroundedfextremity of the pin 34 which socket is dis osed midwa between the walls, 37- 37 de ing the en s of the groove 36. Said socket 38 is disposed symmetrlcally with reference to the axis of swing of the cradle 29, whereby when the parts are in the position illustrated in. Figure 3, the spring f 35 will haveno tendency to swm' thee-radle 29 to either one side or the ot er of its axis of swing. On the other hand, by reason of the engagement ofthe rounded end of the lpin 34 within thesocket 38, the cradle 29rwi be positively held in its mid position.

It will be readily observed that the improved switch is made up of parts .which are simple and inexpensive to. manufacture. The finger hold may be readily inserted through the eyelet 13 by inserting the outer @said finger hold through said eyelet end 0 after which the member 16 may be inserted. By reason of the fact that fits more or less closel within the on shaped member 10, sai member 16 wil permit the convenient handling on a commercial basis of a unit .com rising the cup shaped member 10, finger old 15 and member 16. contact members 26 and 30 .may be readily secured to the insulating cover 19, and the cradle 29 may be disposed upon the arms within the finger old 15, the parts may now be placed together with the insulating. .cover 19 in position uppen the rim of the cup shaped member 10, a r which the fingers 21-21may be. bent over to hold the parts securely in place.

Inasmuch aswhen the finger hold 15 is positive force is exerted upon said finger hold 15 to move same with-an angular movement. An angular movement of the finger hold 15 one way .or another. relative .to the axis .of swingof, the. cradle '29jwill result in the compression of the spring 35 sufiicient to, free the pin 34 from the socket 38 after;

the, member 16 The terminals25-25 and the 27-27 in a very simple operation. After the spring 35 and In 34 have been placed r cradle 29 wi ifii the other of its contact making positions. when it is desired to move 'the" which said ing will expand to urge the a snap action of the one or Similarly, cradle 29 out of one of its contact making positions, no tendency to move the cradle 29 will occur until suflicient force has been applied to the spring 35 to snap the pin 34 either into the socket 38 or into the other extremity of the groove 36. The making and breakin of contact will", therefore, be accomplishef with a snapyaction.

Though apreferrediembodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the sec e of the appended claims.

' e claim: I

1. In a switch, in combination, a cupshaped member having an aperture in the bottom wall thereof, a member of sheet material fitting within -said cup-shaped member and havin an aperture in substantial alignment wit ture, an operatin member disposed within said apertures an having a protuberance rotatably seated between said member of sheet material and the bottom of said cup-shaped member in bearing relationship with said member of sheet material and said bottom.

2. In a switch, in combination, a cupshaped member having an aperture in t e bottom wall thereof, a member of sheet material fitting within said cup-shaped member and having an a rture in substantial alignment with said rst-mentioned a erture, an operating member disposed within said apertures and having a protuberance rotatably seated between said member of sheet material and the bottom of said cupshaped member, said cup-shaped member having an insulating closure, and abutment means cooperating with said closure for holding said member of sheet material in predetermined position relative to said protuberance.

3. In a switch, in combination, a on shaped member terial fitting within said cup-shaped member and havin an aperture in substantial alignment witfi said-first-mentioned aperture, an operating member disposed within said apertures and having a protuberance rotatably seated between said member of sheet material and the bottom of said cupsh gaped member, said cup-shaped} .member electrical contact with said first-mentioned aper-s having an aperture in t e bottom wall thereof, a member of sheet ma-' member electrically connected to said one terminal member, said operating member being provided with spring-pro ected means for selectively biasin said roc 'ng member to one side or the ot er of its fulcrum.

4. In a switch, in combination, a-cu shaped member having an aperture in tlie bottom wall thereof, a member of sheet material fitting within said cup-shaped member and havin an aperture in substantial aligmnent witE said first-mentioned aperture, an operatin member disposed within said apertures an having a protuberance r0- tatably seated between said member of sheet material and the bottom of said cup-shaped member, said cup-shaped member having an insulating closure, and abutment means cooperating with said closure for holding said member of sheet material inpredetermined position relative to said protuberance, said closure member being provided with a plurality of terminals, one of said terminals providing a fulcrum, a rocking member in said fulcrum and having a socket symmetrically disposed relative to said fulcrum, said operating member including a s ring-projected insulatin member adapted to be seated within sai socket to hold said rocking member in mid position or to selectivel ber to one side or the other of said fulcrum. Si ed at Chicago, Illinois, this 5th day of ltfi. rch,1928.

CLARENCE WILLIAMS. ERNST G. APPLETON.

bias said rocking memhaving an insulating closure, and abutment means cooperating with said closure for holding said member of sheet material in predetermined tuberance and a plurality of terminals carried by said closure member, one of said terminals comprising a fulcrum, a rocking position relative to said pro- 

